Wedding dress, invitations wedding, wedding cake

No matter what color you select for your wedding, it will definitely set a tone. There’s not much color to black and white, but imagining a black-and-white wedding brings to mind a crisp, elegant event. Think how much more invigorating the celebration could be with lime green, coral or any other color under the rainbow.

Part of your decision will hinge on the time of year your nuptials are taking place. That’s not to say that all brides married in October and November have to use the colors of fall leaves, but they can be a natural choice. If it’s a December wedding, variations of red are entirely appropriate – and probably a better choice than for a June wedding. A spring wedding is the time to break out some spring colors like aqua and pink. A summer wedding? Try something tropical like orange, orchid or coral.

Of course the location of the wedding can also influence your choice. If you’re having a destination wedding in some tropical resort, then you definitely want one or two bright colors. If you’re having the event in a hotel ballroom, then consider it a blank palette that you can paint any color you want.

It’s not just a matter of choosing a color. You must also get into the hues or variations of the shades. There are traditional color families and more modern palettes. Either is fine. This is purely a matter of personal preferences. The traditional choice might like a nice cornflower blue set off by a soft yellow. The more modern alternative might be aqua and lime green. The traditional choice might be elegant soft pink and champagne beige; the modern alternative could be fuchsia and orange.

Once you think you have identified a palette, then you need to see how the color or colors can be employed. Where will your swatches of color come into your wedding, your reception, your invitation and even your flowers? Note: If you want to include certain flowers, make sure they will be in season or at least available at the time of your wedding.

Of course you’ll want to incorporate your colors into the gowns of the bridesmaids, but you can also consider a touch of one color on your own dress – perhaps a ribbon sash around your waist. You can also introduce a second color on the bridesmaids’ attire with their gloves or their shoes.

And don’t leave the men out. The groom and his groomsmen can add a touch of color on their ties, vests or cummerbunds. It will be a welcome break of color for a wedding party all clad in black tuxedos.

But don’t stop there. Today’s accessories are made with your personal colors in mind. If there’s a flower girl in your wedding, then look for a basket where the color can be featured. The baskets themselves are usually ivory or white, but a boldly colored ribbon could be a nice way to tie in your wedding theme. If you have a little ring bearer, look for a pillow encircled by a ribbon of color. You can even get a guestbook and pen set with a ribbon of color on it.

The first sense of your colors your guests will see comes in the invitation. You can introduce it to them with something as simple as a colored ribbon tied around the invitation itself. Or you can go into full bloom and use your color for the stationary itself. Invitations are available on cardstock in shades of blue, pink, green and yellow, just to name a few.

Of course the reception will offer plenty of uses for your color theme. Tablecloths, napkins and centerpieces are available in a host of colors. The reception might also be the place to introduce secondary colors. After all, a group of green-clad bridesmaids, sitting at a table with a green tablecloth, definitely needs another color to break up all that green. Maybe soft yellow placemats or napkins will be a nice complement.

Or you could introduce table favors in another color. Favors can include small baskets or boxes of mints or candied almonds, which are available in a variety of colors. The favor might also be a votive candle, available in an equal an array of colors.

And, of course, you’ll want to feature your color in flowers. Of course roses come in everything from peach to yellow to purple. There are also a host of other colors available in the form of calla lilies, peonies, lavender, hydrangeas, irises, zinnias, magnolias, gardenias, mums and even sunflowers!

Just as nature is not limited to one or two colors, neither are today’s brides. If you don’t know where to begin, consider visiting a hardware store or someplace that sells paint. Pick up sample cards of the colors you’re considering. Take them home and see what you think after a week or so.  A hardware store may not sound like a romantic place to plan your wedding, but it’s a great place to start!